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Tinnitus Causes: Help with the causes, symptoms and treatment of tinnitus and ringing in the earsMon, 09 Mar 2015 10:47:55 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1What is Tinnitus and What Help is Available?http://www.tinnitus-causes.net/what-is-tinnitus-and-what-help-is-available/
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Tinnitus comes from the Latin word for ‘ringing’. It is an auditory condition whereby the sufferer hears noises such as ringing, buzzing, whistling or even music which does not come from an external source. The noise can be constant or intermittent, it can also change in pitch and volume. See Recognising the Signs and Symptoms of Tinnitus

Mild Tinnitus affects about 1 in 10 people in the UK at some point in their lives (NHS Choices) but for some people, approximately 1 in 200, the Tinnitus is so severe that it has a huge impact on every day functioning (British Tinnitus Association). It can affect work, social life and even relationships with other people. See Living with the Effects of Tinnitus.

Tinnitus is not a disease in itself, but rather it is a symptom caused as a consequence of ear damage such as through exposure to loud noise, or an ear infection for example. There are numerous reasons cited for the onset of Tinnitus. It is important to examine the possible causes, as although not curable itself, the symptoms can be alleviated by removing the underlying cause of Tinnitus. See Understanding the Causes of Tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a fairly common problem affecting children, adults and particularly older people. Most people experience a brief period of ringing or some other sound in their ears at some point in their lives, but generally this is a temporary occurrence. In fact in an experiment carried out in the early 1950s on tinnitus found some interesting results. The experiment involved 80 people with normal hearing. After being placed in a soundproofed room for five minutes, the majority of respondents reported hearing tinnitus type sounds, although none had previously complained of any symptoms (Deafness Research).

There are a number of different techniques to help people with tinnitus cope with the symptoms. Deciding which treatment to adopt is an individual preference as different solutions work better on different people. It is recommended if you suffer from Tinnitus, that you explore a range of options to see which suits you the best to make your symptoms more manageable. See Different Treatments for Tinnitus.

Thank you for reading this article, this website supports a product called Tinnitus Miracle which has further great information about help for Tinnitus and to find out more click here: Tinnitus Miracle

One of the key ways that people who suffer from Tinnitus are able to cope with the symptoms is through distraction and sound techniques. At night time the symptoms of Tinnitus can be worse as the sounds seem much louder, making it difficult to mentally switch off and relax enough to sleep. A range of products and techniques are available that use other sounds which are much more bearable to distract from the Tinnitus, and to prevent you from focusing on the symptoms which intensifies the symptoms further. Although the tinnitus sounds doesn’t disappear, over time the brain becomes trained to ignore the tinnitus so it no longer bothersome.

Some of these products and techniques are discussed below:

Hearing aids
Hearing aids are designed primarily to help people with hearing loss regain some or all of their hearing. They can also however be very beneficial reducing the symptoms of Tinnitus, particularly if the Tinnitus is caused by hearing loss. When a person strains to hear sounds and conversations, this can exacerbate the symptoms of Tinnitus.

Hearing aids help to minimise the effects of Tinnitus by amplifying external noises to distract from tinnitus and can provide more soothing tones. Audiologist use the latest technology to work out the severity of hearing loss, in order to try correct it. A study published by Deafness Research UK suggests that almost 40% of tinnitus sufferers surveyed could benefit from properly prescribed and fitted hearing aids in both ears.

Tinnitus maskers
Tinnitus maskers are designed specifically to help sufferers cope with the symptoms of Tinnitus. They work by producing sounds which mask or cover up the tinnitus sounds and create a soothing sound which is much more bearable. This technique is particularly useful when there is very little background noise so the symptoms of Tinnitus appear intensified, such as late or night or early in the morning. Tinnitus maskers use therapeutic sounds to effectively drown out the symptoms of Tinnitus, these therapeutic sounds are found to be much more relaxing than the range of noises caused by Tinnitus, and people find much easier to fall asleep to.

Tinnitus maskers have been around sine the 1970S in a many forms. They are now many different types available from a small device fitted to the ear which resembles a hearing aid, right up to large sounds system. These are some examples of the type of sound therapies available:

Small device for the ear – this creates a gentle, steady rushing noise throughout the day which masks the tinnitus sounds. The brain begins to recognise this new noise as a peaceful sound which is not distracting.

Sources of sources – noises such as fish tanks, small indoor waterfalls or fountains, fans or low volume music can provide a steady background of comforting noise that can be useful at night or in a quiet environment.

Sound generators – produce a steady background noise such as white noise or sounds of nature such as gentle waves on the shore or a gentle breeze in a forest which are just below the sounds of your tinnitus. These devices can be worn like a personal stereo or stand alone and can turn themselves off so you can use them to fall asleep to.

Night time
As discussed, night time is when the symptoms of Tinnitus are worse. Additionally lack of sleep, and stress caused by lack of sleep, also exacerbate the symptoms of Tinnitus. Some tinnitus maskers have therefore specifically been designed for sleep as follows:

Tinnitus masking pillows – these essentially have speakers embedded into the pillow which emit relaxing, soothing sounds. These have the advantage of not disturbing partners.

Bedside sounds systems – this emits a variety of natural sounds such as the sounds of the ocean or rainfall.

Audio books and music – the right type of audio books and music can help some Tinnitus sufferers by focusing the brain

Thank you for reading this article, this website supports a product called Tinnitus Miracle which has further great information about help for Tinnitus and to find out more click here: Tinnitus Miracle

There are a number of things that you can do to help manage and reduce the symptoms of Tinnitus:

Exercise – take regular exercise. Exercise of very good for improving blood flow. Increasing blood flow to the ears can reduce the symptoms of tinnitus.

Relaxation – just as important as regular exercise is taking time to relax. Relaxation exercise such as yoga, tai chi and meditation work particularly well.

Adjust noise levels – keep a low level of background noise such as an open window or leaving the radio on. Avoid excessive noise which makes tinnitus worse, use ear plugs for example if you are in a noisy environment or doing something such as mowing the lawn.

Develop good sleeping patterns – Alter daily routine to ensure you get enough sleep. Make sure your bedroom is dark and peaceful and that you go to bed relaxed and tired.

Improve your diet – Reducing sugar and fat in your diet with help with the symptoms of tinnitus. It is recommended that you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and high protein foods such as fish and chicken.

Vitamins and minerals – a number of vitamins (A, B, C and E), zinc, garlic, kelp and sea vegetables are also found to be very beneficial in reducing the effects of Tinnitus.

Avoid caffeine and smoking – both caffeine and smoking have been found to aggravate the symptoms of tinnitus, reducing the intake of these could significantly reduce the symptoms.

Review medication – if you are taking medication for another condition, it is possible that this may be making the symptoms of Tinnitus worse. Speak to your GP about the link between your medication and tinnitus, it may be that you and your GP need to consider alternative medication.

Reduce levels of stress and anxiety – stress and anxiety are likely to make the symptoms of Tinnitus work. It is important to reduce levels of stress and anxiety, meditation techniques or counselling may help you with this.

Connecting with other Tinnitus sufferers – self-help groups are available in many communities and online support groups are a very useful way of sharing information and coping techniques. Self-help groups promote a feeling of hope and control and stop the feeling that some sufferers experience that they are alone in their condition.

Research – different techniques and ways of coping with Tinnitus work best for different people. Research the different products, therapies, techniques and remedies available to treat the symptoms of tinnitus and to discover what works best for you.

Thank you for reading this article, this website supports a product called Tinnitus Miracle which has further great information about help for Tinnitus and to find out more click here: Tinnitus Miracle

A number of different types of therapies are available to help manage the symptoms of Tinnitus. Choosing the right one for you is important. Here are some key examples of the types of therapies available:

Tinnitus re-training therapy – Tinnitus-retraining therapy is a therapeutic approach which effectively retrains the way your brain responds to tinnitus. This works by redirecting the brains attention from the tinnitus signal, the sufferer becoming habituated to the sounds of Tinnitus and gradually begins able to tune them out. Tinnitus re-training combines periods of listening to low levels of specially created sounds with counselling sessions. The counselling aims to increase your awareness and understanding of tinnitus and to help you to deal with the negative feelings that are associated with it. Over time, through habituation and counselling, your awareness of different sounds is reduced and you will only notice your tinnitus when you specifically focus on it. Tinnitus retraining may take several months or even years.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – CBT is a combination of both cognitive therapy (which essentially examines unwanted thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs) and behavioural therapy which focuses on your behaviour in response to those thoughts. CBT is based on the idea that your thoughts affect the way you behave and it therefore works by teaching you coping techniques to deal with any negative feelings. Through relaxation and cognitive restructuring of thoughts, CBT can change the way you think and feel about your tinnitus which can in turn help to alleviate the symptoms.

Complementary therapy – Complementary therapies that promote relaxation and a sense of wellbeing may be useful in relieving the discomfort and stress that tinnitus may cause. Therapies include yoga, meditation, reflexology, acupuncture and massage. Ask your GP for advice on these therapies. He or she may be able to recommend a qualified practitioner.

Hypnosis – Hypnosis and hypnotherapy is considered by many to be a very effective treatment for alleviating the symptoms of tinnitus – particularly if stress is exacerbating the symptoms. This works be seeking to remove the emotional reaction to the Tinnitus sounds and make the person feel relaxed instead which reduces the stress effect which has the knock-on-effect of reducing the symptoms of tinnitus. This can be practised at home using pre-recorded material.

Relaxation techniques – breathing and muscle relaxation techniques such as those taught the Tinnitus Clinic are found to be very beneficial to tinnitus sufferers.

Counselling – Living with tinnitus can be frustrating and distressing for some people. Part of the issue is the perceived lack of control the person feels they have over the symptoms. Having a greater understanding of Tinnitus and being able to talk about it helps people manage to their symptoms. Places such as the Tinnitus Clinic provide information and advice on the causes and treatments for Tinnitus. They also include counselling on behavioural management strategies and dealing with your emotions as well as practical advice on diet and exercise.

Sleep counselling/ Sleep Therapy – As tinnitus becomes more noticeable in a quiet environment, it may affect your sleep patterns. This can be through either preventing you from falling asleep in the first place, or repeatedly waking you up. If you are anxious about your tinnitus, this can make the symptoms worse as the pattern of negative thoughts and elevated stress levels can make the tinnitus seem more noticeable and intrusive. Sleep therapy involves reflecting on your beliefs about sleep and evaluating those negative automatic thoughts about sleep and tinnitus. The counselling process aims to change attitudes to tinnitus, and ultimately improve your sleep quality.

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A number of natural herbal and alternative medicines are thought to work well for relieving the symptoms of Tinnitus. People respond differently to these treatments but some people have found them extremely useful. Speak to your doctor before embarking on this as a course of action.

A wide range of herbal remedies using extracts of potent herbs and homeopathic ingredients have been developed, a small sample of these are described below:

Popular herbal and homeopathic remedies and alternative treatments include:

Ginko Bilboa – The herbal remedy Ginkgo Biloba has been strongly linked to relieving symptoms of Tinnitus, although some scientific studies suggest that it may not work any better that a placebo. Ginkgo Biloba is thought to improve circulation to the upper body, particularly the head and neck and so is often prescribed for circulatory problems. It works by increasing the flow of oxygenated blood to different organs including the brain. Where Tinnitus is caused by problems with poor blood flow to the ears, this remedy could be very helpful in providing relief through improved blood circulation.

Seasame – A herb thought to be used to relieve Tinnitus symptoms as well as blurred vision.

Salicylic Acid – This is a plant controversially has been thought both to cause and relieve the symptoms of Tinnitus. When ingested the plant is thought to manifest the symptoms of Tinnitus. However, when mixed into a homeopathic medicine it is believed to reduce the intensity of some of the loud noises associated with Tinnitus.

Lesser Periwinkle – used to reduce tinnitus and Meniere’s disease

Dietary supplements and vitamins – Also prescribed for increasing blood circulation and relieving symptoms of Tinnitus.

Aromatherapy – oils such as lemon and rose have been found to be useful in increasing blood circulation

Food and drink – foods containing zinc in such as spinach, garlic, apple cider vinegar are listed as key sources of food and drink which help to alleviate the symptoms of Tinnitus

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There are multiple recommended ways of managing the symptoms of Tinnitus. However, as Tinnitus is a condition caused by something else, rather than a disorder in itself, this section looks at treating the underlying cause of Tinnitus.

Tinnitus caused by a build-up of earwax can be alleviated through the use of eardrops or ear irrigation. Ear irrigation involves using a pressurised flow of water to remove the earwax.

Straining to hear makes the symptoms of tinnitus worse, therefore treating hearing loss through fitting a hearing aid for example will not only help you hear better, but should also reduce the symptoms of tinnitus.

Surgery – most people won’t need surgery to treat tinnitus. However, if the tinnitus is caused by a physical problem, for example, a tumour near your ear, your surgeon may recommend having the tumour removed.

GPs may be able to prescribe medicines to treat the underlying cause of tinnitus, for example antibiotics can be prescribed for an ear infection.

Treatment for factors such as anxiety and depression which aggravate the symptoms of Tinnitus may help ease your condition.

High blood pressure can be managed by changes to diet and medication.

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Depending on the cause of the Tinnitus, treatments can vary. What works for someone else may not work for you, so you my need to try a number of things until you find something that suits you as an individual.

Key types of treatments include:

Treating the underlying cause of Tinnitus

Alternative medicines – a range of herbal medicines are available to ease the symptoms

Therapies – there are a range of different types of therapies available which many people find extremely useful in managing the symptoms of tinnitus

Self help – tips and techniques for managing the symptoms of Tinnitus

Distraction and sound techniques – there are a whole range of techniques and products available to replace the Tinnitus sounds with an alternative, more manageable sound

Electric and magnetic stimulation – these are at the very early stages of development. The aim is to apply electric or magnetic stimulation to parts of the brain which cause the brain to rewire itself. Although used for treatment of depression, currently the application to tinnitus is only at the experimental stage. More research is being carried out to determine where to precisely to apply the stimulation and for how long.

Tinnitus Miracle – a holistic approach to managing tinnitus

To effectively manage the symptoms of tinnitus, taking a more holistic approach by using a combination of several of the above may be required. Various alternative medicines and sounds therapies can be extremely useful in alleviating the symptoms of tinnitus, but this could be even more effective through some of the self help suggestions. Tinnitus miracle cure adopts such a holistic approach designed to work for the individual.

Thank you for reading this article, this website supports a product called Tinnitus Miracle which has further great information about help for Tinnitus and to find out more click here: Tinnitus Miracle

How is Tinnitus diagnosed? If you suspect you may have Tinnitus it is important to get a proper diagnosis. At some point in their lives most people experience some brief symptoms of Tinnitus. However, it is recommended that you book and appointment with your doctor if:

The symptoms of Tinnitus last longer than a week

Tinnitus is negatively affecting your life

The sound is getting louder

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history and will want to examine you. You may be referred to a specialist such as an ENT consultant or audiologist in which case you are likely to have a number of tests to confirm if you have tinnitus. These can include:

Hearing tests – there are a number of different types available and they differ for adults and children. People normally have a series of hearing tests

Ear x-rays to determine of there is any damage to the ear bones

Blood tests to check for infections and blood disorders

Brain scans to reveal any potential tumours or nerve damage to the ears

There are a number of ways to determine if a person has Tinnitus. People usually undergo a series of hearing tests:

Some of the types of questions involved in hearing tests include:

Which ear is involved – right, left or both?

Is the noise is constant or intermittent?

Is it more pronounced at certain times of day?

Description of the sound

Do the symptoms seem exacerbated by anything?

Does tinnitus affect your ability to sleep? Work? Concentrate?

How annoying is it?

It is estimated that approximately 90 percent of people with tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss. Therefore, hearing tests are essential before a proper diagnosis of tinnitus may be determined. It is crucial to get a diagnosis of tinnitus before embarking on any of the treatments.

Thank you for reading this article, this website supports a product called Tinnitus Miracle which has further great information about help for Tinnitus and to find out more click here: Tinnitus Miracle

]]>http://www.tinnitus-causes.net/diagnosing-the-causes-of-tinnitus/feed/0Tinnitus and the Workings of the Earhttp://www.tinnitus-causes.net/tinnitus-and-the-workings-of-the-ear/
http://www.tinnitus-causes.net/tinnitus-and-the-workings-of-the-ear/#commentsWed, 21 Jan 2015 00:20:19 +0000Emmahttp://www.tinnitus-causes.net/?p=42

To understand about more what happens to the ear when the symptoms of Tinnitus are present, it is useful to understand how the ear itself is structured and how it works.

The ear works by the sounds travelling from the outer ear passing through the middle ear and on to the inner ear. The inner ear contains the cochlea and the auditory nerve. The cochlea is a spiral tube that resembles the shell of a snail and contains a large number of sensitive hair cells that transmit sounds to the brain through the auditory nerve.

If the cochlea becomes damaged in any way, through injury for example, it can no longer do this job effectively. The parts of the cochlea that are still working will continue to send messages to the brain, and the brain will try to compensate for the faulty missing parts by over playing the working parts. This has the effect of creating the internal sound known as Tinnitus.

One of the key factors associated with developing Tinnitus symptoms is exposure to loud noise, particularly over long periods of time. Regularly going to nightclubs, working in noisy environments and even members of the armed forces experiencing loud gun fire have all been linked to causing Tinnitus. The ear can hear a large range of noises from 30 decibels (a low background noise or whisper), to over 100 decibels in a noisy club or bar. Exposure to loud noise can cause the symptoms of Tinnitus to come on very suddenly in some cases.

The modern day use of devices such as Ipods where the ear phone is place right inside of the ear is also leading to increased numbers of people experiencing hearing loss at a younger age which is also a factor in causing Tinnitus. Constant loud noise is thought to cause damage to hair cells in the ear can lead to tiny changes to electric signals that pass up the auditory nerves to the brain.

More recent research suggests that Tinnitus is an issue with the brain searching for external sound that can no longer be heard clearly as a result of age-related hearing loss or loud noise exposure. Instead the brain tries to compensate by filling the empty space with noise. Indeed research in America on animals has shown that severing the auditory nerve dos not stop the symptoms of Tinnitus.

Thank you for reading this article, this website supports a product called Tinnitus Miracle which has further great information about help for Tinnitus and to find out more click here: Tinnitus Miracle

There are numerous causes of Tinnitus, Tinnitus itself is not a disease, but rather an indicator that there is a problem with the auditory system. It is important to understand what might have caused the Tinnitus to be able to treat the symptoms in the best possible way. In many cases, treating the underlying cause of Tinnitus will have the effect of removing the symptoms.

So what does cause Tinnitus? Listed below are the main factors on the onset of tinnitus:

Exposure to loud noise – for example working in a loud noise environment or regularly listening to loud music is found to be a primary cause of tinnitus

Blood flow – The build up of fatty deposits inside an artery can cause the artery walls to narrow which makes blood harder to flow and as a consequence becomes noisier.

Developing an ear infection

Damage to the ear such as perforated ear drum can make you more aware of internal sounds

Acoustic nerve damage often as a result of a vial infection

Build up of impacted ear wax which blocks the ear canal can lead to a temporary form of Tinnitus

Allergies

Experiencing a head or neck injury

Side effect of medication such as antibiotics, diuretics, anti-depressants and drugs to treat cancer

Ingestion of too much aspirin

Hearing Loss – Tinnitus is often the result of hearing loss, particularly age-related hearing loss as the auditory system is thought to start deteriorating at around age 60

Paget’s disease – the normal cycle of bone renewal and repair is disrupted

Migraine headaches

Tumours

Acoustic neuroma – a non cancerous growth that affects the hearing nerve in the middle ear

Otosclerosis – this is an abnormal bone growth in the middle ear

Sinusitis – the interconnection of the ear, nose and throat mean that sinusitis can lead to symptoms of Tinnitus due to build up of pressure

The common cold can causes temporary symptoms of tinnitus

A number of underlying medical conditions can also cause Tinnitus such as;

Epilepsy

High blood pressure (hypertension) and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis)

Diabetes and thyroid problems

Anaemia – this is caused by a reduced number of blood cells in the body. The thinner blood can flow around the body at a faster rate than normal which can produce a sound

Vascular problems (circulatory disorders)

Heart disease

There are also a number of risk factors which can encourage the onset of Tinnitus or exacerbate an existing condition, such as:

High intake of caffeine

Excessive smoking

Drug and alcohol misuse

Fatigue

Depression

Stress and anxiety

Thank you for reading this article, this website supports a product called Tinnitus Miracle which has further great information about help for Tinnitus and to find out more click here: Tinnitus Miracle